Jazz Semiconductor Achieves ISO/TS 16949 Automotive Quality Management System Certification
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. June 10, 2009 – Jazz Semiconductor®, a Tower Group Company (NASDAQ: TSEM, TASE: TSEM), and the leader in Analog-Intensive Mixed-Signal (AIMS) foundry solutions, announced its ISO/TS 16949 certification, the highest international quality standard for the automotive industry. This represents a critical milestone in the company’s strategic roadmap and has paved the way for increased presence in the automotive market. Furthermore, it demonstrates their commitment to meeting the most stringent standards for manufacturing processes and work procedures, resulting in the highest quality semiconductor products in the industry.
“With this certification, all of Tower/Jazz facilities are now working under the same high standards of qualification. Tower also attained the Quality Automotive certification, and both companies have already achieved other world-class quality standards such as Environmental Management, Health & Safety, and Information Security,” said Don Cerney, Vice President, Worldwide Quality and Reliability, Tower Semiconductor. “Compliance with these leading industry systems standards is testimony to our dedication to maintaining and continuously improving quality and performance which benefits all of our partners and customers."
The ISO/TS 16949 Certification, coupled with customer-specific mandates, defines the qualitysystem and global-registration requirements for the international automotive supply chain. In addition, this certification eliminates the need for multiple automotive-supplier quality certifications in the U.S. and Europe.
In order to achieve this certification, Jazz demonstrated stringent procedures, strong leadership and solid infrastructure as well as excellence in the areas of: customer satisfaction, process improvement and product development. This was assessed by BSI Management Systems (BSI), a globally accredited third-party certification body.
For more information on Jazz and Tower’s process offerings and design enablement solutions for the automotive and other industries, please visit www.jazzsemi.com or www.towersemi.com.
About ISO/TS 16949
The ISO/TS 16949 standard is a technical specification defining quality system requirements for
the design and development, production, installation and servicing of automotive-related
products. The standard encourages the use of a process approach that is aimed at improving
process efficiency and is designed to achieve the highest levels of product quality, productivity,
competitiveness, and continual improvement.
ISO/TS 16949 was jointly developed by the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) members and approved by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). IATF members include leading automotive manufacturers and their trade associations. This standard, together with any customer-specific requirements, defines the quality system requirements used in the automotive supply chain.
ISO/TS 16949 is based on ISO 9001:2000, but it includes a number of additional specific quality requirements.
About Tower Semiconductor, Ltd. and Jazz Semiconductor, Inc.
Tower Semiconductor Ltd. (NASDAQ: TSEM, TASE: TSEM) is a pure-play independent
specialty wafer foundry and its fully owned U.S. subsidiary Jazz Semiconductor, Inc., is a leader
in Analog-Intensive Mixed-Signal (AIMS) foundry solutions. Tower and Jazz manufacture
integrated circuits with geometries ranging from 1.0 to 0.13-micron and provide complementary
technical services and design support. In addition to digital CMOS process technology, Tower
offers advanced mixed-signal and RF CMOS, Power Management, CMOS image-sensor, nonvolatile
memory technologies and Flash MTP and OTP solutions. Jazz's comprehensive
process portfolio of modular AIMS technologies includes RFCMOS, Analog CMOS, Silicon and
SiGe BiCMOS, SiGe C-BiCMOS, MEMS, Power CMOS and High Voltage CMOS. To provide
world-class customer service, Tower maintains two manufacturing facilities in Israel; Jazz
maintains a fab in the U.S. and additional manufacturing capacity is available in China through
partnerships with ASMC and HHNEC. For more information, please visit www.towersemi.com
and www.jazzsemi.com.
Safe Harbor Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties.
Actual results may vary from those projected or implied by such forward-looking statements. A complete
discussion of risks and uncertainties that may affect the accuracy of forward-looking statements included
in this press release or which may otherwise affect Tower’s and Jazz’s business is included under the
heading "Risk Factors" in Tower’s most recent filings on Forms 20-F, F-3, F-4 and 6-K, as were filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the Israel Securities Authority and Jazz’s most
recent filings on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, as were filed with the SEC. Tower and Jazz do not intend to
update, and expressly disclaim any obligation to update, the information contained in this release.
Jazz Company Contact:
Melinda Jarrell
949/435-8181
melinda.jarrell@jazzsemi.com
Jazz Media Contact:
Lauri Julian
949/715-3049
lauri.julian@jazzsemi.com